26:1 Then all the people of Judah took a Uzziah, who [was]
sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his
father Amaziah.
(a) Called also Azariah.
26:2 He built b Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that
the king slept with his fathers.
(b) He fortified it and made it strong: this city was also
called Elath and Elanon near the Red sea.
26:5 And he sought God in the days of c Zechariah, who had
understanding in the visions of God: and as long as d he
sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
(c) This was not the Zechariah that was the son of
Jehoiada, but some other prophet of that name.
(d) For God never forsakes any who seek him, and therefore
man is the cause of his own destruction.
26:8 And the Ammonites gave e gifts to Uzziah: and his name
spread abroad [even] to the entering in of Egypt; for he
strengthened [himself] exceedingly.
(e) That is, they paid tribute in a sign of subjection.
26:9 Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner
gate, and at the valley gate, and at the f turning [of
the wall], and fortified them.
(f) Where the wall or tower turns.
26:10 Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells:
for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in
the plains: husbandmen [also], and vine dressers in the
mountains, and in g Carmel: for he loved husbandry.
(g) That is, in mount Carmel, or as the word signifies in
the fruitful field, it is also taken for a green ear
of corn when it is full, (Le 2:14).
26:12 The whole h number of the chief of the fathers of the
mighty men of valour [were] two thousand and six hundred.
(h) Of the chief officers of the king's house, or of the
captains and sergeants for war.
26:16 But when he was strong, his heart i was lifted up to
[his] destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD
his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn
incense upon the altar of incense.
(i) Thus prosperity causes men to trust in themselves and
by forgetting him who is the author of it, procure
their own punishment.
26:18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, [It
appertaineth] not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto
the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are
consecrated to burn incense: k go out of the sanctuary;
for thou hast trespassed; neither [shall it be] for thine
honour from the LORD God.
(k) Though his zeal seemed to be good and also his
intention, yet because they were not governed by the
word of God, he did wickedly and was therefore both
justly resisted and also punished.
26:21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death,
and dwelt in a l several house, [being] a leper; for he
was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son
[was] over the king's house, judging the people of the
land.
(l) According to the commandment of the Lord,
(Le 13:46).
26:23 So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with
his fathers in the field of the burial which [belonged] to
the kings; for they said, He m [is] a leper: and Jotham
his son reigned in his stead.
(m) Therefore was buried apart in the same field but not
in the same sepulchre with his predecessors.
